[MizCandula]

I did a search and only found 4 threads. I was just diagnosed with Bipolar II, amongst other wonderful problems My psychiatrist gave me Cymbalta after I demanded not to be put on anything that will make me gain weight. He said this may even help me lose some... Let's hope.. Is anyone here on it? Any side effects? Weight gain/loss? Thanks in advance!

[Leenie]

I'm sorry I don't know anything about this med.. I hope others can chime in for you.

Hugs !!!

[kitkatbahr]

Hi, I've been on it for about 2 months now. 60mg at bedtime. I am taking it for fibromyalgia. I cannot express to you the huge difference it made in the pain I was feeling on an everyday basis. I feel like a new person. Yeah, I still have aches and pains, but now I can function! I take Tae Kwon Do, I go to Curves, I am walking alot more and have a goal of walking a 5K in just 2 1/2 weeks. That's 3.1 MILES! For me, before, it was an absolute impossibility. Now, I believe I can do it. Long story though, about the fibro.

Anyway for the weight gain/loss etc. I have lost some and didn't gain any at all. I has side effects for a few weeks, nauseous, etc. but it could also have been from my other pill I take for Restless Leg Syndrome, all taken at night. That one STILL makes me sick in my tummy. We just upped the dose, so I know it's that one cause the other symptoms had worn off by then. Anyway, I have lost a few pounds since starting Cymbalta, but not necessarily due to that. Except that now I can exercise without pain and I'm making up for lost time. I truly believe the weight loss comes from the extra exercise, not Cymbalta. But, I also don't believe it will make you gain weight.

Good luck with it. Just remember, DON'T EVER go off it cold turkey, ok? There are lots of warnings about that.

Kathy

[verytomato]

I gained weight on Cymbalta. I felt so hungry all the time while I was on it; my appetite was out of control. My mother experienced the complete opposite--killed her appetite. If you're watching what you eat anyway, I guess it shouldn't matter.

[MizCandula]

Thanks guys!

It's been a very weird couple days.. finding all that out yesterday was a lot to deal with, so I just didn't want to take this medication and find out more surprises.. I am truly hoping I do not get extremely hungry, as I just got my appetite under control.

Good luck to all!

[garnetfairy]

It did not raise my appetite and I have been on it for several months now.

[Marciet]

It's so weird to read this. Just today I heard of it for the first time, and wrote down the name to ask my doctor. I am currently on Celexa, but it's just not doing enough. Aside from the weight issue, how has it been affecting you?

[tink_4_me]

I am not sure how long I have been on it, and have not gained any weight. I am taking it and Wellibutrin. I haven't really lost any weight either. My appetite has seemed to dwindle some so I guess that is good. I feel tired of the afternoon. I dont think that has anything to do with the meds. I could fall asleep and sleep three hours of the afternoon and go right to bed at night. I just need to get moving. Good luck.

[lorenzo05]

I was on cymbalta for quite a few months. I LOVED it but all medicine eventually stops working for me. They increased the dosage and wham I gained about 10 lbs and was binge eating till I felt I needed to throw up.
I reallt wish I could go back on it at a lower dose because I loved the way I felt on cymbalta.

[KimmyKat63]

WebMD

[MizCandula]

Well, it's been almost 2 months on Cymbalta and here is what I've found..

NEVER forget to take it.. I spent today putting my fist through the wall because of it. Zapping head pain, irritability, and crying spells were just the start of some of the horrible withdrawl symptoms I felt and that was only one day off it.

Mind you, I like the way I feel on it, but there is one side effect I can no longer deal with - constipation. This made me so I was unable to go to the bathroom for a week. I had to use laxatives to go, which recently wasn't helping much either. It takes my appetite away for the most part, which does help the dieting.. however, the constipation doesn't help the weight loss.. which I found made me more frustrated.

I was originally put on 30mg and then 60, a week later. I have found that I felt much better on the 30mg, actually better than ever, with less of the side effects. And, BTW tink_4_me, I was getting super tired in the afternoon as well, I don't think it's a coincidence. I believe it's because of the high dose. I'm not a doctor and I'm not claiming to know better than one, but honestly, I think my pdoc should have left me at 30mg since it was working so well for me. My pdoc is a bad example, I believe, because he seems to be too busy to answer questions when I call or see him [And I see him once a month and have only called him twice in the last 2].

Basically what I'm trying to say is, if you are put on this drug and are having great results at 30mg, stay at that for a little while, it may be all you need. Going higher might make things worse, they did for me. I have read many accounts on countless message boards of the horrors of coming off this drug, and I now believe it. Just be aware that the withdrawl from this is no better than most ADs out there. I read a couple of people's accounts where they say these withdrawl symptoms are worse than Effexors. This is just an FYI, as this is the first AD I've ever been on. I just want you to know the things the pdocs won't tell you, just as mine didn't.

If you want anymore info, you can ask here or PM me. I can only tell you my experience so far.

Candi